Door operating mechanism for bakers&#39; ovens



` Feb. "17, 1953 Filed June 15, 1949 L. D.- Ho'ULls 2,628,832

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BAKRS OVENS 4 Sheets-Sheet l wwfmum B ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1953 Filed June 15, 1949 l.. D. HoULls 2,628,832

DOOR OPERATING-` MECHANISM FOR BAKER'S OVENS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 17, 1953 L. D. HoULls 2,628,832

DooR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BAKER'S oVENs Filed .mma 15, 1949 l 4 sheets-sheet s [ou/(s Hou/m [NVM/TOR l.. D. HouLls 2,628,832

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DOOR` OPERATING MECHANISM FOR BAKERS OVENS Filed June l5, 19,49

Feb. 17, 1953 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED y A243,223,832 v Doon OPERATING MECHANISM FOR Y BAKEas ovENs Louis D. Houlis, Dallas, Tex.l Application June 15,1949, Serial No. 99,324

7 Claims. (Cl. 268-58) This invention relates to new Vand usefulim provements. in door operating mechanisms for bakers ovens.

Bakers ovens now in general use ymay be prO.- vided'with either a single or a double door for permitting access to the interior of the oven and ordinarilyf each door is of the sliding type which movesin a vertical plane.

of the oven. Various types of operating mechanisms have been employed `but said mechanisms usually have the disadvantage of requiring that?` the inner wall of the oven be cut into in order to -1 mount saidmechanism; as is well known the oven'lwall is insulated and any cutting -of the inner lwall results in the escape of heat and steam into-the wall area of the oven which is, of course, undesirable. Another disadvantage is that en.:

tirelyseparate or diierent mechanisms have had the' wall of said oven; the disposition of the.

mechanism making the sameeasily accessible for adjustment of or repair to the operating elements.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved door operating mechanism for a` bakers oven which is so constructed that its operating parts and components are interchange-l ably adapted for use in application to either single or double door ovens, whereby the mechanism is universally adaptable to bakers ovens of the vertically movable or disappearing door type. "Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door operating mechanism, of the character described, wherein a single operating member which is readily accessible from the exterior of the oven actuates the mechanism to properly operate each door.

A further object is to provide a mechanism, of

the character described, which permits eiective Y Usually the door is counte'rbalanced and the manual control for .ima parting movement thereto islocated exteriorly,- 1

ifi

2 lzed to impart movement to the door through the medium of said actuating elements; the mechanism comprising va minimum number of parts which are simple in construction and readily adjustable, whereby the mechanism is easily mounted in required position within the oven.

A further object is to provide an improved door operating mechanism comprising a main drive member, idler pulleys and operating chains, all ofV which are constructed so as to be readily interchangeable for use either on a, single door oven or a double door oven; a single door oven drive employing only asingle drive member disposed at `the center front of the oven while a double door oven utilizes tw-o drive members, one for each door and located at opposite sides of the oven on the front wall thereof, whereby the main driver member -or members, as the case may be, are always readily accessible to the operator.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from thedescription ofthe invention.

In'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the instant specication, which are to be read in conjunction therewith and wherein like reference numerals are used'to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a iront elevation of a single door oven, constructed in accordance with` the invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view. taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5- is an enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional View taken through the central portion of the door and illustrating the main operating or drive wheel, v

Figure 6 is an isometric view, illustrating the main drive wheel, idler pulleys and chain connections to the door and counterweight,

Figure 7 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation of the main drive wheel,

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a double door oven, Y

Figure 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8, l

Figure 10 is a transverse, vertical sectional view,rtaken on the line I0|0 of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken through the central portion of one of the doors,

Figure 12 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line I2-I2 of Figure 11, and

Figure 13 is a view, similar t-o Figure 6, showing the mechanism applied to one of the doors of a double door oven.

In the drawings, the numeral I designates a bakers oven which may be of any desired construction. The oven is ordinarily of Welded construction with its frame work formed of angle bars and channel members and` havingK an outer wall surface IIg andI an innen wall surface. I 2` formed of sheet metal welded or otherwise secured to the main frame. As is usual practice the walls top and bottom of the oven are suit'- ably insulated. The particular details; of construction form no part of the present invention and therefore the particular manner in,A which the oven is constructed is subject to variation.

In Figures 1-7 the oven I0 is. illustrated;V as. a single door oven and is provided with a longitudinally extending access opening I3 in its front wall. A slidable door I4; which is movable in a vertical plana is adapted. when in a. lower position to. close theopening I.31 and when` in an. upper position tamove upwardlywithin a recess I5 formed. in. the inner-Wall ofthe oven soy as to be#` out of alignment. with the access. openingl3. TheA ldoorisl constructed oi' an angle. frame IB. having sheet metali sides. I1: with: suitable insulation therebetween anch for. guidingY the door in its vertical? movement verticallyv extending T-shaped bars |58: are attachedf to. each endl or thev door. 'l-hevv rib. Ir8a= (Figure. 4;). of each T-shaped" guidey bar is movable within. a verticali slot I9 formed in a door frame, member and obviously, move-f. ment of thedoorfin a vertical. plane is guided by` the coaction-` of the ribsv lau. within. their respec-` tives slots. Ill'` The` cent-rar portion of the door may` bel formed: with. the usual windowV 2t wherebyi-when. the. door in a closed. position the in teriorofr the oven may.v be. viewed through said window;

With the.. door in itsful'ly-loweredf position, asvv illustrated in Figures 3e andi 5i, the lower end of the door rests upon a shelfl 22.v which spans the lower portion of.I the= access-v opening |13; and the '1T-shaped'. guide. bars- I8 extend downwardly from the door into a recessed area: 234V which is pro.-` videds on the inner' Wall surface of the front wall of-` the oven. Since the guideL members are at-v tached to opposite ends of the door it will be evi` dent that'. said-2 membersv are spaced from each other by substantially: the length` off the door (F-igure-1)=.

For imparting a vertical movement to the door Ilf in orderto operate the same, a; main drive wheel 24 is mountedcentrally ofthe front wall of*S the oven andis disposedwithin the recess portion 23 in theY inner wall surface. The operating wheel: 24' hasL an axial collar 255 whichV is suitably secured upon a rotatable shaft' 26 The shaft supported in bearingl collars 2l which are'mountecr within supporting straps 28 and 29, said straps being secured tocertain of the angle. barsf 30. which formpart of the oven frame. The shaft 25: extends entirelyC throughl the` fron-t Wall ofi the oven4 andi has: an operatingcrank 31 attached to its outer end. By manually swinging thecranlcv handle. it willf beevident that a rotation will be imparted tothe-main operating-wheel- 24. The;-outerfrim or'periphery of the main operating wheel?` 24. is formed withv a pairy off annu-- lar-g-rooves2and33.1y (Figure-51)..

E01' converting the. rotation of-A the main op erating wheel 24 into vertical motion which may befransmittadf to.. the oven: door; I4;v an operating chain 34 is-attachedbyfa bolt.,3*'.iwitl'ii1rmeans` nular groove 32 of the drive wheel. The base or bottom of the groove is formed with a plurality of spaced threaded openings 33 whereby the bolt 35 may be attached in any one of various positions with respect to the wheel 24. The operating chain 34 passes over an idler pulley 31 which is formed with a deep annular groove 38. The., idler pulley 31 has its shaft 39 supported in a, supporting;` strap similary to the strap 28 which is'mounted= between the angular frame members 30 of the oven. The idler 3l is located contiguous to one of the depending guide members t8., and the operating chain which is passed; over said idler has its end attached by means of a fastening bolt 4I with the lower end of said guide member.

A- similar-operating chain 42 has one end disposed within the second groove 33 of the operating wheel 24 and is fastened thereto by a bolt 43 which may be received in any one of a number of threaded openings 4;4 provided inthe bottom of Said: groove. The oppositeY end ofv the4 operating chain 42 passes over the groove of an operating pulley 34 which has its shaft. 45 mounted upon asupporting strap 46' and which is located* contiguous; to. the other depending guide member I8., The end of the operating chain 4-2 is att-ached bya bolt' 4l with the lower. end of the. guide member; Sin-ce, both operating chains 42 are attached*A to, the.'V rotatable; operating wheel with their other ends attached to: the lower portionsA of: the guide members I8, it; will be evident that an rotation of. the, operating wheell will wind)y the chains 34 and 42v upon the wheel and will result` in an upward movement of the guide mem.- bers Ifl. The guide members, being attached to the ends ofthe oven door I4', will therebyimpart a verticab movement; to said oven door. The diameter ofl the operating wheel issuch that` approximately: one third` turn of the operating wheel will' resultin a; complete lifting or lowerl ing' of the oyen door, and said wheel may be readily operated from the exterior of the oven through: the crank handle 3;I .Y

For` counterbalancing, the weight ofthe door a. counter-.balancing` weight48 is movable within.

the-.lower-portion. ofthe recessed area 23 below the operating Wheel and below they idler pulleys 3:'I andi 44'.. The.` guidev member I8 which is atv-- tached. tothe operating chainY 314 has. a. secondV chain: 49 attachedthereto byl aboltA 5Il1and` this chain passes over the; idler pulley andE has its opposite end bolted; at 5I` toan angular bracket 52', the latter being securedf to. one end'. of the elongate*A counterweight 48'. It is noted that the groove. in theidler pulley 3l is of sufficient depth to accommodate bothr chains 49 and 34. A similar chain- 53' has oneend'` attached by a bolt 54A to the-oppositelguide member If8v and this chain passes upwardly over thev groove of the second idler pulley 44and` hasits opposite end attached bya bolt 55 to a bracket 55 which i's fastened to the opposite end of` the counterweight 48. For attaching the central por-tion of the counterweight to the rotatable operating Wheel 24 a chain-5 1: has its lower vend bolted at 58"JI to a centralvbracket 591 fastened to the upper surface of=A thec ounterweight. The chainv 51 mayz b e attachedto the wll'eel-ZA` atthe bolt 35 and as illusbetween the chain elements connecting the counterweight with the door members and with the operating wheel it is possible to quickly adjust the connections to obtain the desired operation. In other words, any slack may be readily taken up by merely changing the particular link with which the various fastening bolts are connected. This makes the mechanism quickly and easily adjustable to obtain the proper or desired amount of movement in accordance with a predetermined swinging of the manual crank handle 3l. The operation of the mechanism is clearly evident from the foregoing. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be obvious that when the crank handle 3i is swung a rotation will be imparted to the operating wheel, such rotation being in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6. As the operating wheel 24 rotates the operating chains 34 and 42 'are wound further about the wheel and an upward vertical movement is imparted to the guide members I8 of the door, thereby resulting in an upward vertical movement of the door which will move the same to an open position. At the saine time that the door moves upwardly the particular chain connects with the counterweight permitting said counterweight to move downwardly, and thus the door will be counterbalanced in all positions of its movement. When it is desired to close the door a reverse swinging movement of the crank handle 3l will rotate the wheel 24 in an opposite direction and this Will result in a raising of the weight iii with a lowering of the door I4. It will be evident that the mechanism is extremely simple and has a minimum' nurnber of working parts. The mechanism may be mounted within lthe recessed area 23 within the front wall of the oven and it is not necessary to cut into said wall in order to mount the various working parts. The only opening through the front wall is that which is provided for the operating shaft 26 and this may be properly Sealed off within the bearing collars 2l. When the door I4 is opened the operating wheel and chains are readily accessible through the access opening Il for adjustment or repair.

In Figures 8-13 the invention is illustrated as applied to a double door oven, as compared to the single door oven shown in Figures 1-7. The oven Ilm is formed with a pair of access openings l3a in its front wall and these openings Vare adapted to be closed by a pair of movaloly vertical doors |40.. In this type of oven a single elongate door is in effect divided into two separate doors and a central supporting post B (Figure l2) is located between the doors Ida. Each door has 'a T-shaped guide member I3 mounted at its outer end and is formed with a channel guide member Si coacting with the central post 60 whereby vertical movement of each door I4a is eiciently guided.

The operating mechanism for each of the doors 54a is identical in construction and it is believed that a description of one will suice. It is noted that the particular operating unit for each of the doors Elia utilizes substantially the same elements as the elements employed in the mechanism for a single door oven. Referring to Figure 13, the operating wheel 24 having the double grooves 32 and 33 is mounted at one end of each door and functions as the main operating member for that door unit or mechanism. In this form the operating wheel is disposed within a housing or casing 62 which is fastened by bolts 63 to one of the frame members of the oven.

lil) The shaft 26 of the rst form is replaced by a stub shaft 26a and the axial collar 25 of the operating wheel 24 is secured to the stub shaft. The crank handle 3l is attached to the stub shaft and may, if desired, be attached to the wheel 24, and this handle extends outwardly through an arcuate opening 64 formed in one side of the casing 62. The axis of the stub shaft 26a is at a right angle to the axis of the shaft 2t of the first form and also the operating wheel 24 is disposed at the end of the door which it controls rather than centrally of the oven.

For operating the door 14a upon rotation of the operating wheel 24 an operating chain 65 has one end boltedat 66 within the groove 32 of the operating wheel. This chain passes upwardly overan idler pulley 31a which is constructed in exactly the same manner as the idler 3l of the rst form. The idler has its shaft 39a supported in a strap 40a which is welded to one of the angle bars of the oven frame. The operating chain 65 then passes over a second idler pulley 44a which is constructed in an identical manner to the idler 4a of 'the first forro. This pulley has its shaft 45a suitably journaled in a supporting strap 46a. After passing over the pulley 44a, the operating chain 65 has its extremity bolted at 6l to a bracket 58 atyone end of the door Isar. A second operating chain 69 may have one end bolted at 'l0 tothe rst operating chain 60 with its opposite end bolted at l la to the opposite end of the door Ma. A rotation of the main operating wheel 24 through the crank handle 3i will result in a simultaneous movement of the operating chains 65 and69 whereby the door ita, will be moved vertically.

For counterbalancing each door Ma a cylindrical weight 13 is connected by a flexible chain i4 with the operating wheel 211, said chain passing around the groove 33 of the operating member and being bolted thereto at l5. The chain 'le has connection with the weight by a bolt 16 which fastens said bolt to a bracket il. The weight 'E3 is movable within a vertical recessed portion or area 'I8 (Figure 8) which is formed in the inner surface of the front wall of the oven.

i The operation of this form of the invention is obvious. As a vrotation is imparted to the main operating wheel the operating chains 65 and 63 will lift or lower the door I4a, from each end thereof and since the attachment of the chains is to the ends of the door movement of the door will be without any binding action. The counterweight 'i3 being attached to the main operating wheel 24 will obviously raise and lower in accordance with the door movement and will therefore counterbalance the door in all positions. It is, of course, understood that an operating unit such as shown in Figure 13 is provided foreach of the doors Ida of the double door oven.

One of the important features of the present invention is the-provision of a door operating mechanism which has component parts which are readily applicable to either a single or double door oven. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the main operating elements of the mechanism comprise the main operating wheel 24, lthe idler pulleys and the flexible chain elements. Actually, the only difference between the two mechanisms resides in the fact that in the first form an elongate counterweight is employed, whereas in the second form a cylindrical type counterweight for each door is provided. The pulleys, chains and main operating wheel are readily interchangeable irrespective of the type of doors employed in the oven. In both instances, the mechanism is mounted on the interior wall of the oven and is readily accessible through the access opening or openings of the oven for adjustment and repair.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain vall of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It is noted that the unit which is described as applied to a double door oven in Figures 8 to 13 could be applied to a single dooi` oven, in which event the main operating wheel 24 would be located at one side of the oven rather than at the center thereof.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a bakers oven having insulated walls and also having a door movable in a vertical plane to open and closed positions, of a door operating mechanism including, a rotatable main operating wheel mounted on the oven wall and having an operating shaft accessible from the exterior of the oven, a pair of 'idler pulleys mounted within the interior of the voven in the same vertical plane as the path of movement of the door, each idler pulley being disposed in vertical alignment with one side portion of the door, a flexible connecting element having one end attached to one side of the door and passing over one of the idlers and attached to the main operating wheel, a second flexible -element having one end attached to the opposite side of the door and passing over the second idler and also attached to the main operating wheel, whereby rotation of the wheel through its operating shaft winds said flexible elements about the operating wheel to impart vertical movement to the door to open and close the same.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, together with means for mounting the operating wheel within the wall of the oven centrally below the door and in the same vertical plane as the path of movement of the door.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, together with a counterweight movable within the inner portion of the front wall of the oven, and a flexible connection connecting the counterweight to the operating wheel.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, together with a counterweight movable within the inner portion of the front wall of the oven, a `flexible connection connecting the counterweight to the operating wheel, and means for mounting the operating wheel centrally within the front wall of the oven above the counterweight and in alignment with the vertical plane in which the door is-movable.

5. A door operating mechanism for ovens having an opening in its front wall and also having a single door adapted to close said opening and movable in a vertical plane, said mechanism inilo cluding, la rotatable yoperating wheel mounted in the front wall of the oven below said oven and having a rotatable operating shaft extending outwardly from said wall and accessible from the exterior of the oven, a pair of idler pulleys. means for mounting each idler pulley on a horizontal axis adjacent one end of the door below the opening in the front wall of the oven but at a point above the extreme lower end of the door, a flexible connecting element extending over one of the idler pulleys and having one end connected to the door and its opposite end connected to the operating wheel, and a second flexible connecting element extending over the other idler pulley and lhaving .one end connected to the door and its opposite end connected to the operating wheel, whereby rotation of the operating wheel imparts vertical movement to the door by means of said connecting elements.

6. A door operating mechanism as set forth in claim 5, together with a counterweight movable within the front wall of the oven below the opening and also below the operating wheel, and a exible connection connecting the counterweight to the operating wheel.

7. A door operating mechanism as set forth in claim 5, together with an elongate counterweight disposed below the operating wheel, a flexible connection connecting the central portion of the counterweight with the operating wheel, aA flexible connection between one end of the counterweight which passes over one of the idler pulleys and has connection with one .side of the door, and another exible connection connected with the other end of `the counterweight and passing over the second idler pulley and having connection with the opposite side of the door.

LOUIS D. HOULIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date .22,954 Huey Feb. 15, 1859 49,1134 Merrymon et al. Aug. 1, 1865 105,330 Hamilton July 12, 1870 1,228,143 Shockley' May 29, 1917 '1,448,480 Bedell Mal'. 13, 1923 1,522,047 Cragun Jan. 6, 1925 1,612,232 Strandt Dec. 28, 1926 2,017,012 Morgan Oct. 8, 1935 Y2,930,223 OBren Feb. 11, 1936 v2,260,013 Elvers Oct. 21, 1941 2,282,914 Vetterlein May 12, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 352,430 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1929 731,075 `France Aug. 29, 1932 874,292 France Aug. 3, 1942 

